Stop motion



April ELST. PIERRE EI'AL 2,636,367

STOP MOTION Filed Jan. 31, 1952 [we-firem- EWCEWE SIRE PR6; J55 HHMWZME Patented Apr. 28, 1953 STOP MOTION Eugene St. Pierre, Pawtucket, and Joseph Wawzonek, Central Falls, R. I., assignors t0. Hemphill Company, Pawtucket, R. I., a corporation of Massachusetts Application January 31, 1952, Serial No. 269,216

3 Claims.

1 This invent on relates to circular, independent needle, knitting machines of the dial and cylinder type; and, particularly, to stop motions for preventing needle damage and yarn load-ups in such machines.

The primary object of the invention is to pro vide a stop motion system which will be absolutely reliable, but less expensive and less complicated than those of the prior art. A further object is to insure that the stop motion system will provide for a safe failure; i. e., will render the knitting machine inoperative if there is any electrical failure in the stop motion system,

plane extending from approximately the intersection of the longitudinal axes of said dial and said cylinder needles and is mounted on the machine in such a manner that, when it is thrust forward, as shown in Figure 1, so that spring 6 is'ccmpressed and its end i is locked against stud 8, its tip 9 is interjected into the space between the hooks of the dial and needle cylinders (l and II, respectively) .in their normal positions,

thereby avoiding the risk of reliance upon a device which might actually be inoperative.

The above and other related objects are accomplished in accordance with the invention by a stop motion system which includes: a single mechanical trigger for protecting both the dial and the cylinder needles, mechanical means for Withdrawing the trigger from the vicinity of the needles to render it inoperative when it might interfere with their operation, an electrical switch actuated by the trigger and controlling current to a solenoid which actuates the belt shipper or other means for stopping the rotation of the dial and cylinder.

Th operation of the invention is explained by reference to the accompanying drawing, wherem:

Figure l is a diagrammatic view of a stop motion system after the manner of the invention, showing the mechanical trigger in its locked position; i. e., permitting the machine to operate;

Figure 2 is a plan View from below of the mounting for the mechanical trigger of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the mounting and trigger of Figure 1, with the trigger in unlocked or released position, i. e. causing the machine to stop;

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic side view of the mounting and trigger of the other figures, showing the location of the trigger with respect to dial and cylinder needles when in the locked position of Figure 1.

As shown in Figure 1, this stop motion system includes a mechanical trigger I supported upon a retractable mounting 2 and actuating an elecas shown in Figure 4.

In the locked position, the surface l2 of the trigger is pressed against the actuator I3 of the switch 3, thereby closing the switch and permitting electrical current from the transformer 14 to cause the solenoid 4 to hold the lever 5 in position to" permit the machine to be driven by its associated driving mechanism.

If the butt of either a cylinder needle II or a dial needle it! should break and, as a consequence, the needle is not withdrawn at the proper time, it will strike the tip 9 of the trigger l as the machine rotates, thereby dislodging its end 1 from thestud 8 and causing the spring 6 to force the trigger backward upon the mounting 2. This releases the surface 12 from the actuator l3, as shown in Figure 3, opens the switch 3, and breaks the electric current to the solenoid 4. The deenergized solenoid allows the spring 23 to pull the lever 5 out of its engaged position, thereby disconnecting the driving mechanism of the machine.

A similar release of the trigger I will take place when there is a load-up of yarn on either dial or cylinder needles.

The fact that thespring 6 removes the trigger i from its proximity to the needles once the tip 9 has been struck prevents the trigger from becomin bent or damaged by any further rotation of the needles before the stopping action takes efiect.

At certain times during the operation of the machine, the cylinder needles are raised high enough to hit against the trigger in its normal operating position, e. g. during reciprocatory knitting of the heel and toe. At such times, it is necessary to withdraw the trigger I without, at the same time, releasing the actuator l3 of the switch 3. This is accomplished by making the trigger mounting 2 retractable so that the entire assembly can be withdrawn away from the needles to the position designated by the dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2.

I The means for accomplishing this retraction is a lever 15 bearing against a stud I6 underneath the mounting plate 2, as shown in Fig. 2. The

aesasgv mounting 2 is slidably held on a bracket IT by means of a slot l8 and guiding screws l9 and 20.

The bracket I l is mounted upon the pivoted carrier ring (not shown) which supports the entire dial unit (also not shown) in conventional manner. This method of supporting the trigger assemblyypfi mitsiit and its associated retracting mechanism to be withdrawn from ,the ;cylinder area for purposes of repair, independent operation of the cylinder, etc.

Normally, a spring 2| fastened between the mounting 2 and the forward end of the bracket-=.

l'l holds the mounting inritsrforward position, as shown in Fig. 1.

A red 22 connected to thapattermdrumlnot shown in Fig. 2, and thereby removes the entire assembly, including the triggery'from proximity to the needles when desired withoutbreaking;

contact at the switch 3.

In. .case there should be ,a, failure of electrical current to the transformer. l4,'1the solenoid'i4 wouldlbe immediately de-energized, thereby releasing the lever. '..-and,. stopping the ,machine. This. ensures that the operator s will" not rely upon the stop motion to prevent needle smashes or load-up of fabric rwheneth'e-system has suffered an electrical failure.

Another featurerof .thisstop motioniscits closed electrical system as distinguished from: a, ground-.- ed system. i.v e.,, it is not -electrically connected tothe chassisci themachine. Thisreduceslthe possibility of electrical shocks to operating-per: sonnelfrom short circuitsfietcr In this. manner, ,the invention .providesan inexpensive,cfiicient. .and.saie stop-motion system for circular knittinghmachines .oi itherdialand cylinder. vtype.

'15.- shown) pulls the lever against the stud l6, as i What is claimed is:

1. In a circular, independent needle knitting machine having dial and cylinder needles disposed at substantially right angles to each other and means for stopping the machine a stop motion system which includes a mechanical trigger disposed in arplane extending from approximately theintersectiori; of therl'ongitudinal axes of said dial and cylinder needles, a mounting for said trigger retractable in said plane in a direction away from said needles, said trigger being automatically retractable upon said mounting when struchby said needles or yarn carried by them, aasolenoidgadaptedto operate said means for stopping said; machine, and means for providing anzel'ectricalz current to said solenoid including a switch actuated by said trigger.

2; The invention according to claim 1 and wherein said trigger is adapted to actuate said switch regardless of whether said mounting is inlretracted or unretractedposition. V

3; A stop' motion system according to claim 1 and'jwherei'n said'electric current is at ,nortime during xtheoperation of said systemgrounded to said machine.

EUGENE, ST. PIERRE. JOSEPH WAWZONEK.

References Citledinthe .file .of this -patent STATES EPATENTS Number 1,754,151" ah-036,243 2;17 8 i142 2,362,783 2390;936' 

